Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) In an apparent attempt to take the wind out of his detractors’ sails, superstar Amitabh Bachchan Monday expressed gratitude to Maharashtra, saying the state has “given me so much in the last 40 years - my wife, my children and so much love…..Jai Maharashtra”. Speaking in chaste Marathi on the newly launched IBN-Lokmat Marathi news channel, Bachchan said he owes a lot to Maharashtra in whose capital his film career has blossomed.

Switching to Hindi after winding up his Marathi salutation with “Jai Maharashtra”, the Bollywood icon said his father Harivanshrai Bachchan had many friends in the Marathi literary circles and was very happy to see the Marathi translation of ‘Madhushala’ - his celebrated poetic work in Hindi.

Bachchan also recalled his own association with several distinguished Maharashtrians in different walks of life including Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray and his participation in Marathi literary meets.

In the eye of a storm following the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena questioning his commitment to Maharashtra, the superstar had said that the constitution has given every Indian the right to live and work anywhere in the country.

In the panel discussion that the channel conducted on the controversial issue, its editor Nikhil Wagle drew viewers’ attention to Bachchan’s little known gestures for Marathi individuals like ailing Dalit poet Namdeo Dhasal and films like the Oscar-nominated “Shwaas”.